Encroachments and rehabilitating families are the oft repeated hindrances for revamping storm water drains network.
Along with these what is little known is that Voyants Solutions Pvt. Ltd., the agency entrusted to prepare a master plan for major and minor drains is yet to submit its final report.
The consultancy which is preparing a comprehensive master plan for the entire GHMC area had submitted a preliminary report nearly two years ago.
Tentatively, it was estimated as per the 2009 prices that the cost of remodelling the entire storm water drain system costs Rs.6, 246.10 crore covering an area of 625 sq.km.
GHMC commissioner M. T. Krishna Babu informed the council during the last meeting that the agency would be submitting a final report by the month end.
By then, the cost estimates for the repairs of drains and rehabilitating the people is expected to escalate taking the current prices into consideration.
Also, Kirloskar Consultants, which had prepared the master plan for storm water drains for the core city (erstwhile MCH) of 170 sq.km for the major drains, is also still to submit a final report on the master plan for minor drains for the same area though the work was allotted in 2006.
The Commissioner admitted the progress was slow with just Rs.75.87 crore spent in the last five years across the four major nalas and 11 minor drains despite Rs.266.47 crore released under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Key works in nalas
Murki nala: structure valuations are being revised, Kukatpally nala: resurvey in progress, Balkapur nala: encroachments removal – these key works are being done. Altogether 1,350 structures have to be removed across these drains and families have to be rehabilitated. “If we can do this successfully, we can inspire confidence among stakeholders and complete the project,” observed Mr. Krishna Babu.
Save for the Picket and Erramanzil nalas work across drains of Yellareddyguda, Banjara Hills, Punjagutta, Yousufguda, Kalasiguda and Nagamaiahkunta has stopped with termination notices likely to the contractors concerned.
Work is under progress on the drains of Dandu Mansion , Gandhinagar and Musheerabad.
But, he was confident that once the government decides on the flood return level to fix the ‘practical' width of each channel based on an ongoing technical study, works could be completed on the four major storm water drains at least in three years. It could arrest flooding of city roads to a large extent during heavy rain.
